Welcome to Future Transport Tasmania

We are here to lobby for better public transport and rail infrastructure in Tasmania. We aim to find solutions to allow all Tasmanians to have environmentally responsible and affordable commuting options to get around our state and towns. A more detailed mission statement can be found in the left column or <here>.

Find our articles below, starting with the most recent ones first:

Thursday, April 14, 2011

MEDIA RELEASE from last month

Community-based public and transport advocacy group, Future Transport Tasmania (FTT), today acknowledged the new chair of the Tasmanian Infrastructure Advisory Council (TIAC), Philip Clark AM has a big job ahead him, and criticised governments for ignoring rail funding over politically weighted road projects. FTT believes that it is time for the massive imbalance of road funding versus rail to end, and for rail to be given priority.

FTT acknowledged that the TIAC will be looking at a number of options but does not believe that rail is a single project, but should become the priority area, as it is so deficient compared to the state’s roads.

Future Transport Tasmania spokesperson Toby Rowallan said: “A four lane Midland Highway will not cost two billion dollars, not four billion but eight billion dollars by the time it is finished. The Brighton Bypass alone is going to cost over $300 million and it is only a comparatively small section, so it is easy to see the potential costs blow out. Further massive road infrastructure spending is good money virtually thrown away. For two billion dollars we could have the best railway network in the country if not comparable to the world’s best, with fast passenger trains from Hobart to Launceston, several times per day, that would take perhaps an hour.”

“At the moment some people are saying they want a four-lane highway because of safety, because of potholes, because of heavy trucks and other slow traffic. What we read into that is that people want to be able to drive fast or at least get to their destination fast. What we are saying is that for far less than the cost of a four-lane highway we could have a rail service that is far faster than the road, so that all of the slow traffic and all of the heavy freight would be on the rail. The added benefit would be that it is far safer if you are fatigued, you would be on the train and you would get there faster. On the train it would be much safer, more comfortable and relaxed. Freight trains would be much faster and would be much more competitive with the trucks. So there would be less heavy trucks pounding the highway into a crumble and so the government would save on highway maintenance, currently almost $60 million per year.”

“The only clear benefit from a four lane highway would be the highway maintenance department and those who like to drive their cars very fast. With the reality of peak oil looming large on the near horizon, with the extremely high fuel prices that will come, building more highways is nothing short of insanity. Many may say that the car manufacturers will rise to the occasion and build hydrogen cars and electric cars. This may well be true, but there has been no work done on a potential change-over of millions of cars around the world suddenly becoming obsolete and needing to be replaced. Tasmania could be prepared for this but it is not. It is time for that to change,” finished Mr Rowallan.

To lobby for and promote rail transport as a preferred option for bulk and intermodal freight

To lobby for and promote improvement and expansion of Tasmania’s rail infrastructure and network

-The retention of the Bridgewater to Hobart line- The reopening of various other lines eg. Derwent Valley, Wiltshire, Smithton and Scottsdale

To lobby for transport solutions to be integrated into urban and regional planning

PRIMARY RATIONALE

Climate change demands action, increased public transport services are inherent to this response

Increasing oil costs, together with the reality of Peak Oil will ensure that significant improvements to public transport services, with a much wider range of options, is necessary in the near future

Economic efficiency –assisting business and providing jobs

Equity and accessibility

Improved air quality and matching Tasmania’s Clean and Green brand

Addressing unsustainable traffic congestion

Removing discrimination –improving access to public transport for the disabled, elderly people and parents

More closely knit and cohesive communities;-eg. Neighbours who catch the same bus are much more likely to talk to one another in comparison to those who drive themselves to work

The notion that public transport systems or indeed a publicly owned rail system have to pay their own way is potentially counterproductive to the aim of such a system-Were Hobart’s old tram and suburban rail systems closed due to lack of patronage, or running costs?

Current demand is not relative to future use, simply because of the lack of current transport alternatives

Rail transport is potentially far more efficient than road, and has multiple benefits alongside decreasing carbon emissions, including;-significantly decreased road maintenance costs-potentially decreased road toll and associated costs relating to heavy vehicle crashes-Tasmania’s rail network was constructed in the 19th century and has to compete with a 20th century highway

MORE ABOUT US

Until now there has been no community-based group advocating public and rail transport. We are here to fill this gap and provide a voice for these issues in the public arena.

We mean business and will work as vigorously as any corporate lobby group does, except that unlike some we want to hear public opinion.

Membership of FTT is open to any person who wishes to be a part of it.

We are not affiliated with any political party. We welcome discussion of our agenda and ideas with anyone, and we hope to have discussions with all three major political parties in Tasmania about these issues.

Tasmania is currently re-defining itself. As part of this process of change and growth, in a vision of sustainability and progress, transport infrastructure is a vital part of nation (and state) building. Future Transport Tasmania aims to bring this vision of the future into today’s public debate.

For further information and comment:Toby Rowallan (Secretary) 0418 997 069Email: